The Canadiens practiced at their Brossard facility Wednesday morning and then headed for Washington where they’ll meet the winless Capitals Thursday night. Following the practice, Michel Therrien told reporters he would be going with the same lineup he used Tuesday night in the 4-1 over the Florida Panthers, meaning Lars Eller will remain a healthy scratch along with defenceman Yannick Weber.

On the sidelines, Marc Bergevin was busy. In the role of Canadiens GM he sent forward Michael Blunden back to the Bulldogs. Blunden was not dressed for the first two games of the season. There were also rumours of a scheduled Wednesday conversation between Bergevin and P.K. Subban’s agent Don Meehan. If it happened, there’s been nothing of substance to report.

Then, wearing his Hamilton Bulldogs GM hat he released defenceman Mike Commodore from his Professional Tryout Contract.

Scott Gomez Signs with San Jose

……Last week Bergevin bought out the remaining year and a half of his seven year contract. Gomez signed a one year 700 thousand dollar contract with the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday. Gomez had been practicing with the Sharks and accompanied the team when it traveled to Calgary to play Sunday. The Sharks play Phoenix on Thursday and Gomez will be available to play.

……The 6’4″ inch Mike Blunden is one of those ‘tweener players. The 26 year old right wing/centre has the size and the grit to be an NHLer but his skating ability and lack of point production continues to hold him back. In 36 Hamilton games this season, he had seven goals and seven assists.

……As an unrestricted free agent Mike Commodore signed a Professional Tryout Contract with the Bulldogs in order to give his conditioning a kick-start during the lockout. He played seventeen game in Hamilton and the Canadiens invited him to their abreviated training camp. It was abundantly clear that at the age of 33, Commodore’s best hockey was behind him. He still an unrestricted free agent but barring a real emergency somewhere, his NHL days appear over.